Eagles vs. Chickens

Once upon a time, in a vast countryside, there was a farm where chickens clucked and pecked around, content with their small patch of earth. Every day, they wandered in the same yard, caged by the boundaries of their coop, their wings clipped by their own beliefs. Though they had feathers and wings, they never tried to fly; instead, they looked up at the sky with doubt, thinking, "That’s not for me." They were comfortable where they were, content with the status quo, but deep down, a seed of doubt and a sense of limitation held them back. This was the life of a chicken.

But beyond the farm, soaring high above, was an eagle. The eagle wasn’t bound by the coop or the earth. It viewed the world from a 1,000-foot perch, its sharp eyes scanning the horizon, ready to seize opportunities. The eagle believed in its ability to conquer the skies, to glide above the storms, and to dive with precision when necessary. It had a mindset of confidence, purpose, and relentless pursuit of its goals. The eagle didn’t doubt its ability to fly; it simply did what it was born to do—soar.

Now, imagine the journey of a law student. You have a choice: to adopt the mindset of a chicken or that of an eagle. The chicken mentality keeps you locked in the coop of self-doubt, where you limit yourself by the boundaries of what you think you can achieve. It’s a mindset where you might look at the vast world of law and think, “That’s not for me,” or “I’m not ready.” It creeps in when you fail to balance your time, fail to study, brief your cases, and outline weekly. It happens when you begin to allow yourself to believe that law school is just too hard and it’s too much work. IT IS! This is imposter syndrome—a belief that you don’t belong, that you’re not capable of great success. And like the chickens, you might find yourself scratching at the ground, never realizing that you have the wings to soar.

But I challenge you to embrace the eagle mentality. Eagles set their expectations high and aren’t afraid to soar above challenges. They prepare with the confidence that they are capable, and they trust in their ability to navigate the winds of law school, no matter how turbulent. With the vision of an eagle, you see the big picture—you don’t get lost in the weeds of self-doubt or fear of failure. Instead, you focus on your goal, knowing that you are equipped to dive into the complexities of the law, ready, capable, prepared, and confident.

As your instructor, my expectation of you is nothing less than an Eagle mindset. I want you to view the challenges of law school from that 1,000-foot perch, seeing the world and your place in it with clarity and ambition. Believe in yourself so confidently that when it’s time to act—when it’s time to soar—you do so without hesitation. You are not chickens, limited by a coop of doubt. You are eagles, meant to rise above and reach the heights of your potential.

So spread your wings. The sky is yours. Soar high, and swoop in ready to conquer the challenges ahead.

I am Prof. Jones and I train EAGLES, NOT CHICKENS. 

............................Prof. DGJ

(inspired by the writings of Mychal Wynn, The Eagles who Thought They were Chickens 1993)